One Hundred Mistakes
An Aspen Cove Small Town Romance
Kelly Collins
Copyright © 2021 by Kelley Maestas
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Victoria Cooper Art *
Edits by Show Me Edits
Author’s Note
Would you like to get a free prequel to my bestselling Aspen Cove Series?
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Other Books by Kelly Collins
An Aspen Cove Romance Series
One Hundred Reasons
One Hundred Heartbeats
One Hundred Wishes
One Hundred Promises
One Hundred Excuses
One Hundred Christmas Kisses
One Hundred Lifetimes
One Hundred Ways
One Hundred Goodbyes
One Hundred Secrets
One Hundred Regrets
One Hundred Choices
One Hundred Decisions
One Hundred Glances
One Hundred Lessons
One Hundred Mistakes
Cross Creek Novels
Broken Hart
Recipes for Love
A Tablespoon of Temptation
A Pinch of Passion
A Dash of Desire
A Cup of Compassion
The Second Chance Series
Set Free
Set Aside
Set in Stone
Set Up
Set on You
The Second Chance Series Box Set
Holiday Novels
The Trouble with Tinsel
Wrapped around My Heart
Cole for Christmas
Christmas Inn Love
Mistletoe and Millionaires
Up to Snow Good
Wilde Love Series
Betting On Him
Betting On Her
Betting On Us
A Wilde Love Collection
The Boys of Fury Series
Redeeming Ryker
Saving Silas
Delivering Decker
The Boys of Fury Boxset
A Beloved Duet
Still the One
Always the One
Beloved Duet
Small Town Big Love
What If
Imagine That
No Regrets
Small Town Big Love Boxset
Frazier Falls
Rescue Me
Shelter Me
Defend Me
The Frazier Falls Collection
Stand Along Billionaire Novels (Steamy)
Risk Taker
Dream Maker
Making the Grade Series
The Learning Curve
The Dean’s List
Honor Roll
Making the Grade Box Set
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
A Sneak Peek at One Hundred Nights
Thank you for reading.
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About the Author
Chapter One
Deanna Archer rushed from the Corner Store with sweat on her brow and a tingle on her lips. Why in the hell did she kiss Merrick? Sure, he was handsome and single, but holy hell, what compelled her to fist his shirt and pull him down for a lip-locking kiss? He was the new deputy sheriff and could have arrested her for sexual harassment, but instead, he agreed to have pizza and beer with her at six.
She stopped at the curb and took several cleansing breaths, but her heart whirled faster, like a cyclone out of control.
“What the hell was that about?” Red said from behind her.
She steeled her shoulders. “That was about self-preservation. My mom once told me you could lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. You’re the horse, Red, and I’m the water, but my well is running dry. No, scratch that, you’re a donkey, and I’ve had enough of you being an ass.”
“So, you kiss Merrick?”
She brought her fingers to her lips and felt the heat the sheriff left behind. “I guess I did.”
“You’re not having dinner with him, are you?” He stood with his legs spread and chest pushed out like he was showing off a coat of armor.
She glanced at her phone to see the time. “I don’t have time to waste discussing my love life when I have to prepare for my date.” She pivoted and started for home.
“I know what you’re doing,” he yelled after her. “You’re trying to make me jealous, but it won’t work because I’m not the jealous type.”
She lifted her hand in the air and waved like she didn’t have a care in the world, when in reality, she had at least a dozen starting with, what in the hell was she thinking? She had a date with Merrick. Was it a date? Surely, he knew it wasn’t a date date. He was in law enforcement and most likely could read a bluff.
Her fingers felt her lips again. It sure felt real, though.
But it wasn’t, because as much as she wanted someone to choose her, love her, and be her prince charming, those stories only happened on the Hallmark Channel, romance novels, and The Bachelor. There was no one waiting to gift her with a rose.
She considered her “date.” With only a take-and-bake pizza from Dalton’s shop and a six-pack of beer to offer, she was woefully unprepared. At the corner, she crossed the street and backtracked to the bakery. If Merrick showed up, she’d let him know it was an impulsive act, a gut reaction to Red being an idiot. If he was cool with her rationale, there was no reason they couldn’t have dinner and a beer together. She’d pick up some of Katie’s sweets to make his evening less of a waste.
Red stood across the street, scowling at her. “Forgot dessert,” she called over to him. It probably wasn’t smart to poke a bear, but he deserved her wrath. They had sex, and after that, he ghosted her. Now she had to see him every single day at work and wonder why in the hell she didn’t measure up.
As she neared B’s Bakery, the rich aroma of dark chocolate wrapped around her and tugged her into the shop where Katie sat across from Sage under The Wishing Wall. Though Sage wasn’t due to have her baby until November, she looked ready to pop.
“Deanna,” Katie squealed. She always was upbeat and happy. Maybe working with sweets instead of assholes was the key. “Do you have time for coffee?” She hopped up and grabbed another chair from a nearby wrought iron table, pulling it to theirs. “I just made a batch of caramel pecan brownies. It’s a new recipe, and you can be the guinea pig.”
She glanced at the wall clock and shrugged. “I’ve got a few minutes.” She plunked into the seat and looked at The Wishing Wall, and then her eyes went to Sage. “What’s it like making a human?”
“Exhausting. Who knew it would be so hard? I mean, women have been doing it since the beginning of time. One
would think it was easy. If men had to pay to have their wives make a baby, they couldn’t afford it. If they had to have the babies, civilization would have ended thousands of years ago.”
A ripple moved across Sage’s belly. “Did the baby just move?”
“He never stays still.”
Deanna sat up. “It’s a he?”
Sage laughed. “It’s a he when it’s a beast and a she when all is calm.” She reached over and grabbed Deanna’s hand, pulling her forward and setting her palm on the top of her stomach. Seconds later, a wave of movement happened. “We don’t know the sex. There are very few surprises in life, and this will be one of them.”
Katie returned with a cup of coffee and a brownie oozing caramel. “Tell me what you think. Don’t hold back. It’s a turtle brownie. I know it’s not anything groundbreaking because other bakeries make them, but this is my first try.” She took her seat and waited for Deanna to take a bite.
She pulled the warm confection to her lips, the same lips Merrick kissed. When she tasted it, she knew she’d been transported from her temporary hell to sweet heaven.
“Oh. My. God, I’ll take a half dozen of these. I’ve got a date with Merrick and came here for dessert, so these are perfect.”
Both women cocked their heads.
“Mountain of a man, Merrick? Deputy Sheriff Merrick, who is as sweet as those brownies?” Katie asked.
With a roll of her eyes, Deanna swallowed and attempted to explain. She gave them the short and dirty version that went from her one-night stand with Red to her unexplainable date tonight with Merrick.
“He had drunk sex with you and then ghosted you?” Sage asked.
“I wouldn’t call it drunk sex. I was in the studio one night while he was putting down some tracks. He had a bottle of wine and offered me a glass.” The next part was embarrassing. “I can drink a Russian under the table if we’re downing vodka, but give me one glass of wine, and I’m done.”
“It’s the tannins,” Sage said. “I know lots of people who can drink hard liquor but give them a little fermented grape juice, and they’re dancing on the tables.”
Deanna hung her head. “Or screwing on the hood of his car.” She let out a groan. “Worst decision ever.”
“That bad, huh?” Katie reached over and picked a piece of brownie off Deanna’s plate.
“No, it was good. I didn’t see stars or anything, but that was because the ridge of the hood was digging into my back.”
“You were actually on the hood?” Sage closed her eyes as if she were trying to imagine it. “Wouldn’t he have to be Merrick tall for that to work?”
She was right. Merrick was tall. Deanna had to drag him down to kiss him.
“It was more of an against the car scenario, and maybe it was the front grill that was so uncomfortable.”
“The man has no class.” Katie stretched her lips into a thin line. “First time, and it was against a car? You don’t need him. He’s not a keeper.” She tapped her finger on her lips. “He’s a catch and release.”
“You don’t understand. I really like him. I’ve known him for a long time.” Why she felt the need to defend Red, she didn’t know. Was she defending him or herself for making poor choices? If he wasn’t so bad, then that meant her decision-making skills weren’t awful either. Why did she feel the need to lie to herself? Right now, Red was the worst of the worst, but she still liked him. There was no accounting for taste.
Sage got up and walked around the counter to grab an oat bran muffin. They were another staple in the bakery’s daily offerings. She held it up. “A girl needs her bran. Did you know that pregnancy totally messes up your digestive system?” She took a bite and talked around it. “I knew it, but I didn’t think it would happen to me.” She took her seat. “Let’s get back to Red. Is he really the guy you want?”
She considered the question because they had a history, and she knew him better than any man. Knew his quirks, like how he played the opening riff to Another One Bites the Dust before each session. He preferred blueberry muffins to cranberry orange and liked cheap red wine, which was why she got a headache, or maybe it was because she was so frustrated with him on the regular that he’d given her an aneurysm.
He didn’t know she heard him tell the band they were a mistake because she’d marched out of the studio after lobbing a muffin at his head. But the sound guy had the room on speaker, and she took in every hurtful word when he said they had too much wine and made several poor choices.
Since then, she mostly kept her distance, but she noticed him looking at her. She knew the flowers on her doorstep last week were from him. There weren’t many single men in Aspen Cove. There was Gray, the guitarist, but he was more like a brother. Then there was Merrick, who probably didn’t know she existed until she accosted him. The flowers were from Red, but why had he dropped them off? Were they a sign of attraction or an apology? She hadn’t considered the motive, only that they arrived.
“I want Red. Better the devil you know, right?”
Both Katie and Sage frowned, but only Katie spoke. “The best way to get a man is to pretend you don’t want him. Rejection is a hard pill to swallow.”
Sage finished her last bite of bran muffin. “You deserve better than what he’s giving you. If you want him, make him work for it. Merrick is the perfect decoy. Just make sure he knows where he stands. It would be awful to lead him on when you don’t have any intention of pursuing a relationship.” She stood. “Kind of sounds like what Red did to you.” She covered her mouth and gasped. “Oh, did I say that out loud?” She moved toward the door. “I swear I have no filter anymore. It must be the hormones.”
Katie laughed so hard, she snorted. “You never had a filter. You want an honest answer?” She pointed at Sage. “That girl has it.”
“I’m out of here. I think the bran is working.” Sage walked out the door, leaving Katie and Deanna alone.
“Do you think I’m being silly?”
Katie waved her hand through the air. “Girl, I fell in love with Bowie. He didn’t know he wanted me until I convinced him of the truth, and that was he couldn’t live without me. Love wants what love wants.”
Deanna looked up and pointed to The Wishing Wall. “What are the chances it works?”
Katie grabbed a pen and a yellow sticky note from the board. “It can’t work if you don’t try.” She placed them on the table in front of Deanna.
“There’s been so much change in my life lately, and I just want a constant. I want to be loved by someone besides my poodle, Sherman.”
“Sherman?”
“Don’t laugh, but while I was hugging him in the pet store, deciding if he was the one, I swear he said, ‘My name is Sherman.’ Who was I to argue?” She plopped the last bite into her mouth, and after she savored and swallowed, she continued. “No one was more surprised than me to walk out with a poodle named Sherman. I didn’t even like that breed. I went in to get a Yorkie.”
Katie rose and walked behind the display case. “I’ve found that sometimes we don’t get a choice in who we end up with. You’d think you do, but if it’s not right, it won’t ever work.” She packed six beautiful gooey brownies and placed the box on the counter. “My contribution to your journey to love.” She pointed to the sticky note. “Put your wish on the board. You never know who’s watching or listening. Maybe you have a guardian angel, or the universe wants to shine on you.”
Deanna picked up the box and tucked a twenty into the tip jar. She knew the money never went to the staff. It was donated to whoever needed something, and that was fine by her. When she turned to leave, she stopped and wrote on the sticky note before pinning it to the wall. There had to be at least a dozen wishes already in place. It felt silly wishing for something as fundamental as love, but a person always wanted what they didn’t have.
Right now, she had a half dozen brownies and a fake date with Merrick Buchanan. Could her life get any more complicated?
Chapter Two
Merrick walked out baffled. He’d gone to the Corner Store for a frozen meal and walked out with a date. How did that happen?
Outside, Red stood staring at the bakery. Just inside the window, Merrick could see Deanna.
“Hey man, if she’s your girl, I can call off the pizza and beer.”
Red swung around to face him. His muscles tensed, and his eyes narrowed to slits. “She’s not mine. Do what you want, but let me warn you,” he glanced over his shoulder at the bakery. “That girl is clingy. If you kiss her, she’ll want a ring and house with a white picket fence.”
Merrick laughed. “Then I better get shopping for that ring and putting up that fence.”
Red’s eyes grew large. “I’m serious, man. That one,”—he thumbed behind him—“she’s a forever girl. If you just want a taste, then I’d say dine somewhere else.”
A little tornado of agitation spun in Merrick’s gut. He was raised by a single mother and had a little sister, so he was sensitive to women’s feelings, and no woman he knew would have found Red’s words flattering. Maybe the part about forever girl if used in a different context, like she was the kind of girl a man would want to keep forever, but that’s not what Red meant. He got his taste and moved on to another appetizer.
“You’re an asshole.”
Red shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
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